Cable management systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Cable-management systems can hold a speaker device and can hold at least a portion of an electrical cable of the speaker device. In some embodiments, a cable-management system includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by at least one upward-facing surface configured to vertically support the speaker device. The upward-facing surface can be a ledge or a wall that stretches all the way across a cylindrical cable management system. The upper portion can hold the speaker device while the lower portion holds the electrical cable. The electrical cable can be wrapped around a post of the housing such that the cable is hidden inside the cable management system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/294,452, filed Mar. 14, 2016; and entitled CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS. The entire contents of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/294,452 are incorporated by reference herein.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/557,886, filed Feb. 12, 2016; and entitled CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. The entire contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/557,886 are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods to hold cables of electronic devices. Certain embodiments relate to wrapping electrical cables inside a housing.

Description of Related Art

Electronic devices often receive electrical power from electrical cables. The electrical cables can create a tangled mess. Extra electrical cable length can be visible on countertops and desktops. Thus, there is a need to “manage” cables (e.g., secure the cables such that they are not tangled or visible).

SUMMARY

The disclosure includes a cable-management system configured to hold a speaker device and to hold at least a portion of an external electrical cable of the speaker device. The electrical cable can be configured to electrically couple the speaker device to an external power source. The cable-management system can include a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by at least one upward-facing surface configured to vertically support the speaker device, wherein the upper portion is configured to hold the speaker device, the lower portion is configured to hold the portion of the electrical cable.

The cable-management system can include a vertical protrusion located in the lower portion of the housing. The cable-management system can include a first radially outward protrusion coupled to the vertical protrusion and configured to prevent the electrical cable from exiting the lower portion while the electrical cable is wrapped around the vertical protrusion. In some embodiments, the vertical protrusion protrudes downward away from the upper portion, and the vertical protrusion protrudes upward towards the upper portion.

In some embodiments, the vertical protrusion is a cylinder and the system further comprises a second radially outward protrusion coupled to the vertical protrusion and located on an opposite side of the cylinder relative to the first radially outward protrusion. The housing can comprise a first hole located under the first radially outward protrusion and a second hole located under the second radially outward protrusion. The first hole can be larger than a first outer perimeter of the first radially outward protrusion and the second hole can be larger than a second outer perimeter of the second radially outward protrusion.

The upward-facing surface can be a ledge having a thickness of less than 3 millimeters as measured radially inward. In some embodiments, the ledge separates the lower portion from the upper portion.

In some embodiments, the system includes a first flex arm configured to apply a first compressive force on the speaker device to couple the speaker device to the housing. The first flex arm can comprise a vertically upward protrusion having a lower section and an upper section. The lower section can couple the upper section to the housing such that bending the first flex arm causes the upper section to move more than the lower section. As well, the upper portion can comprise an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and a radially outward surface of the first flex arm can be located between the inner diameter and the outer diameter. A radially inward surface of the first flex arm can be located radially inward of the inner diameter such that inserting the speaker device into the housing causes the upper section of the first flex arm to bend radially outward.

As well, embodiments of the system can include a second flex arm located on an opposite side of the inner diameter relative to the first flex arm such that the second flex arm pushes the speaker device towards the first flex arm. The lower section of the first flex arm can be coupled to the lower portion of the housing, and the upper section of the first flex arm can be located in the upper portion of the housing.

In some embodiments, the system further includes at least one radially inward protrusion that protrudes radially inward from an inward facing surface of the upper portion of the housing. The housing can be made from a first material, the radially inward protrusion can be made from a second material, and the second material can be at least 30 percent softer and at least 30 percent more compliant than the first material such that the radially inward protrusion is configured to deform radially outward in response to inserting the speaker device into the upper portion. The deformation of the radially inward protrusion creates a compressive force on the speaker device to help secure the speaker device to the housing.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the system includes a vertical slot in an outer wall of the housing, wherein the cable enters the housing through the vertical slot and wraps around the vertical protrusion in a cavity between a bottom surface of the housing and the first radially outward protrusion. The housing can be made from a first material having a first coefficient of friction, the bottom surface can be made from a second material having a second coefficient of friction that is at least 25 percent higher than the first coefficient of friction such that the system resists sliding relative to a floor on which the system is placed. In some embodiments, the second material is at least 30 percent softer and at least 30 percent more compliant than the first material. As well, in some embodiments, the vertical slot passes through the outer wall in at least an area of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the upward-facing surface.

In some embodiments, the housing is cylindrical and the vertical protrusion is cylindrical and located inside an outer wall of the housing. The cable can enter the housing, wrap around the vertical protrusion in the lower portion, enter the upper portion, and electrically couple to the speaker device within the upper portion.

Even still, in some embodiments, the system further includes a cable wrapping assembling having the vertical protrusion and the first radially outward protrusion. A top surface of the cable wrapping assembly can be located at least 3 millimeters and no more than 20 millimeters below the upward-facing surface such that an extra cable portion located above the cable wrapping assembly does not impede the speaker device from resting on the upward-facing surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate but not to limit the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top, front, and side perspective view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of circle B from FIG. 2, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom, side, and back perspective view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first side view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second side view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a back view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D from FIG. 10, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of circle E from FIG. 11, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C from FIG. 10, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a speaker device coupled to a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a front view of a speaker device coupled to a cable management system, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line G-G from FIG. 14, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed below, inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodiments described below. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the method or process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding certain embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. Additionally, the structures, systems, and/or devices described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components.

For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may also be taught or suggested herein. The features of each embodiment can be combined with the other embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cable-management system 2 configured to hold a speaker device 4 and to hold at least a portion of an external electrical cable 6 of the speaker device 4 inside that system 2. The electrical cable 6 can extend from the speaker device 4 and be configured to electrically couple the speaker device 4 to an external power source 8, such as a power outlet. Portions of the system 2 can be referred to as a cable wrapping assembling configured to receive the cable 6.

In some embodiments, the speaker device 4 is an Amazon Echo made by Amazon.com, Inc. The footprint of the speaker device 4 can be a cylinder, rectangle, triangle, or any such shape. Other types of speaker devices 4 can also be used with embodiments of cable management systems 2. Accordingly, the housing 10 can define an outer shape, or footprint, that matches the footprint of the speaker device 4, such as a cylinder, rectangle, triangle, etc.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-16, the cable-management system 2 can include a housing 10 having an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 14 separated by at least one upward-facing surface 16 configured to vertically support the speaker device 4. The upper portion 12 can be configured to hold the speaker device 4, while the lower portion 14 can be configured to hold the portion of the electrical cable 6. In some embodiments, the upward-facing surface 16, which can separate the lower portion 14 from the upper portion 12, can be a ledge 16 a having a thickness of less than 3 millimeters as measured radially inward.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 10, 11, 13, and 16, the cable management system 2 can include a vertical protrusion 18 located in the lower portion 14 of the housing 10. In some embodiments, the vertical protrusion 18 is a cylinder. The vertical protrusion 18 can protrude downward away from the upper portion 12. Stated differently, the vertical protrusion 18 can protrude upward towards the upper portion 12. In some embodiments, the cable 6 enters the housing 10, wraps around the vertical protrusion 18 in the lower portion 14, enters the upper portion 12, whereby the cable 6 is electrically coupled to the speaker device 4 within the upper portion 12.

The cable management system 2 can also include a first radially outward protrusion 20 a coupled to the vertical protrusion 18. In some embodiments, the system 2 includes a second radially outward protrusion 20 b also coupled to the vertical protrusion 18 and located on the opposite side of the vertical protrusion 18 relative to the first radially outward protrusion 20 a. The first and second radially outward protrusions 20 a, 20 b can be configured to prevent the electrical cable 6 from exiting the lower portion 14 while the electrical cable 6 is wrapped around the vertical protrusion 18 (also known as a post). The vertical protrusion 18 and the radially outward protrusion(s) 20 can be referred to as the cable wrapping assembly. In some embodiments, a top surface of the cable wrapping assembly is located at least 3 millimeters and no more than 20 millimeters below the upward-facing surface 16 such that an extra cable portion located above the cable wrapping assembly does not impede the speaker device 4 from resting on the upward-facing surface 16.

The speaker device 4 can be placed inside an upper portion of the cable management system 2. As illustrated in FIG. 16, in some embodiments at least 30 percent of the cable 6 and/or at least 50 percent of the cable 6 is stored inside the cable management system 2 and while the cable 6 electrically couples the speaker device 4 to the external power supply 8, such as a power outlet.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 2 can include a vertical slot 50 located in an outer wall 52 of the housing 10. The cable 6 can enter the housing 10 through the vertical slot 50 and then wrap around the vertical protrusion 18 in a cavity 54 between a bottom surface 56 of the housing 10 and the first radially outward protrusion 20. In some embodiments, the vertical slot 50 passes through the outer wall in at least an area of the upper portion 12, the lower portion 14, and the upward-facing surface 16. However, it should be appreciated that the vertical slot 50 can pass through only the upper portion 12 and the upward-facing surface 16. However, in other embodiments, the vertical slot 50 may only pass through the upper portion 12.

With additional reference to FIG. 4, the housing 10 can include a first hole 22 a located under the first radially outward protrusion 20 a and a second hole 22 b located under the second radially outward protrusion 20 b. In some embodiments, the first hole 22 a is larger than a first outer perimeter 24 a of the first radially outward protrusion 20 a and the second hole 22 b is larger than a second outer perimeter 24 b of the second radially outward protrusion 20 b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 10-14, the cable management system 2 can include features to help securely couple the speaker device 4 to the cable management system 2. In some embodiments, the system 2 includes a first flex arm 30 a configured to apply a first compressive force on the speaker device 4 to couple the speaker device 4 to the housing 10. The first flex arm 30 a can include a vertically upward protrusion having a lower section 32 and an upper section 34. The lower section 32 can couple the upper section 34 to the housing 10 such that bending the first flex arm 30 a causes the upper section 34 to move more than the lower section 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 10, 11, 13, and 14, in some embodiments, the system includes a second flex arm 30 b located on an opposite side of the inner diameter 36 relative to the first flex arm 30 a. The second flex arm 30 b can push the speaker device 4 towards the first flex arm 30 a. In this regard, the first and second flex arms 30 a, 30 b can securely couple the speaker device 4 to the cable management system 2. In some embodiments, the system 2 can include additional flex arms, such as a third flex arm 30 c and a fourth flex arm 30 d.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 13, the upper portion 12 can include an inner diameter 36 and an outer diameter 38. With specific reference to FIG. 13, a radially outward surface 40 of the first flex arm 30 a can be located between the inner diameter 36 and the outer diameter 38. Furthermore, a radially inward surface 42 of the first flex arm 30 a can be located radially inward of the inner diameter 36 such that inserting the speaker device 4 into the housing 10 causes the upper section 34 of the first flex arm 30 a to bend radially outward.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, 10, and 13, the cable management system 2 can include at least one radially inward protrusion 46 that protrudes radially inward from an inward facing surface 48 of the upper portion 12 of the housing 10. In some embodiments, the at least one radially inward protrusion 46 can be at least one rib that face inward towards a central axis of the housing 10. Furthermore, the at least one radially inward protrusion 46 can protect the sides of the speaker device 4 and also help securely couple the speaker device 4 to the cable management system 2.

In some embodiments, the housing 10 is made from a first material, the radially inward protrusion 46 is made from a second material, and the second material is at least 30 percent softer and at least 30 percent more compliant than the first material such that the radially inward protrusion 46 is configured to deform radially outward in response to inserting the speaker device 4 into the upper portion 12. The deformation of the radially inward protrusion 46 can create a compressive force on the speaker device 4 to help secure the speaker device 4 to the housing 10. The cable management system 2 can be molded from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) and/or polycarbonate (“PC”). As well, the bottom surface 56, flex arms 30, and radially inward protrusions 46 can be molded (e.g., molded separately from the housing 10 or overmolded) from a softer material such as silicone, which tends to be more compliant than ABS or PC.

The housing 10 can be made from a first material having a first coefficient of friction. As well, the bottom surface 56 can be made from a second material having a second coefficient of friction that is at least 25 percent higher than the first coefficient of friction such that the system resists sliding relative to a floor on which the system is placed. In some embodiments, the second material is at least 30 percent softer and at least 30 percent more compliant than the first material.

INTERPRETATION

None of the steps described herein is essential or indispensable. Any of the steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can be used. Any portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in one embodiment, flowchart, or example in this specification can be combined or used with or instead of any other portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in a different embodiment, flowchart, or example. The embodiments and examples provided herein are not intended to be discrete and separate from each other.

The section headings and subheadings provided herein are nonlimiting. The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the full scope of the embodiments described in the sections to which the headings and subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled “Topic 1” may include embodiments that do not pertain to Topic 1 and embodiments described in other sections may apply to and be combined with embodiments described within the “Topic 1” section.

Some of the devices, systems, embodiments, and processes use computers. Each of the routines, processes, methods, and algorithms described in the preceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules executed by one or more computers, computer processors, or machines configured to execute computer instructions. The code modules may be stored on any type of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or tangible computer storage device, such as hard drives, solid state memory, flash memory, optical disc, and/or the like. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry. The results of the disclosed processes and process steps may be stored, persistently or otherwise, in any type of non-transitory computer storage such as, e.g., volatile or non-volatile storage.

The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state, or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods, steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than the order specifically disclosed. Multiple steps may be combined in a single block or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.

The term “and/or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or” applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and/or C can be replaced with A, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in another sentence. A, B, and/or C means that some embodiments can include A and B, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include B and C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can include only B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments include A, B, and C. The term “and/or” is used to avoid unnecessary redundancy.

While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein. 

We claim:
 1. A cable-management system configured to hold a speaker device and to hold at least a portion of an external electrical cable of the speaker device, wherein the electrical cable is configured to electrically couple the speaker device to an external power source, the cable-management system comprising: a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion separated by at least one upward-facing surface configured to vertically support the speaker device, wherein the upper portion is configured to hold the speaker device, the lower portion is configured to hold the portion of the electrical cable; a vertical protrusion located in the lower portion of the housing; and a first radially outward protrusion coupled to the vertical protrusion and configured to prevent the electrical cable from exiting the lower portion while the electrical cable is wrapped around the vertical protrusion.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical protrusion protrudes downward away from the upper portion.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical protrusion protrudes upward towards the upper portion.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical protrusion is a cylinder, the system further comprising a second radially outward protrusion coupled to the vertical protrusion and located on an opposite side of the cylinder relative to the first radially outward protrusion.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a first hole located under the first radially outward protrusion and a second hole located under the second radially outward protrusion, wherein the first hole is larger than a first outer perimeter of the first radially outward protrusion and the second hole is larger than a second outer perimeter of the second radially outward protrusion.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the upward-facing surface is a ledge having a thickness of less than 3 millimeters as measured radially inward.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the ledge separates the lower portion from the upper portion.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first flex arm configured to apply a first compressive force on the speaker device to couple the speaker device to the housing.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first flex arm comprises a vertically upward protrusion having a lower section and an upper section, wherein the lower section couples the upper section to the housing such that bending the first flex arm causes the upper section to move more than the lower section.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the upper portion comprises an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and a radially outward surface of the first flex arm is located between the inner diameter and the outer diameter.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein a radially inward surface of the first flex arm is located radially inward of the inner diameter such that inserting the speaker device into the housing causes the upper section of the first flex arm to bend radially outward.
 12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second flex arm located on an opposite side of the inner diameter relative to the first flex arm such that the second flex arm pushes the speaker device towards the first flex arm.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the lower section of the first flex arm is coupled to the lower portion of the housing, and the upper section of the first flex arm is located in the upper portion of the housing.
 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one radially inward protrusion that protrudes radially inward from an inward facing surface of the upper portion of the housing, wherein the housing is made from a first material, the radially inward protrusion is made from a second material, and the second material is at least 30 percent softer and at least 30 percent more compliant than the first material such that the radially inward protrusion is configured to deform radially outward in response to inserting the speaker device into the upper portion, wherein deformation of the radially inward protrusion creates a compressive force on the speaker device to help secure the speaker device to the housing.
 15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vertical slot in an outer wall of the housing, wherein the cable enters the housing through the vertical slot and wraps around the vertical protrusion in a cavity between a bottom surface of the housing and the first radially outward protrusion.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the housing is made from a first material having a first coefficient of friction, the bottom surface is made from a second material having a second coefficient of friction that is at least 25 percent higher than the first coefficient of friction such that the system resists sliding relative to a floor on which the system is placed.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second material is at least 30 percent softer and at least 30 percent more compliant than the first material.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the vertical slot passes through the outer wall in at least an area of the upper portion, the lower portion, and the upward-facing surface.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is cylindrical and the vertical protrusion is cylindrical and located inside an outer wall of the housing.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable enters the housing, wraps around the vertical protrusion in the lower portion, enters the upper portion, and is electrically coupled to the speaker device within the upper portion.
 21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable wrapping assembling having the vertical protrusion and the first radially outward protrusion, wherein a top surface of the cable wrapping assembly is located at least 3 millimeters and no more than 20 millimeters below the upward-facing surface such that an extra cable portion located above the cable wrapping assembly does not impede the speaker device from resting on the upward-facing surface. 